Range time with .22 mag & trying too hard

[je265]

Took my sportster .22 mag w/ 4x Nikon prostaff I just mounted to the range today. It was nice weather with no wind and unbelievably nobody else was at the range. I got on paper quick at 50 yards and ended up shooting mostly 1/2'" groups or less (3 rounds) with CCI Maxi-mag 40 gr hp. I got the scope where I wanted and then switched to the 25 yd range to see where I was hitting. I plan on using this rifle for calling coyotes and sometimes they come in fast and close. I was shooting about 3/8" to 1/2" low and I have no idea what I was thinking because I started adjusting the scope to hit dead on at 25. I was shooting one hole groups at that distance and quickly adjusted the scope where I was dead on.


I then went back to the 50 and I'm sure many of you can guess what happened. Now I'm shooting 2" high it was starting to get dark and I wasn't focusing as good as I had been. Of course I didn't bother to count the clicks when I changed the dope at the 25 yard range. It only took me two 3 round groups to get close but I'm not as confident as I had been. For all practical purposes I'm within 1" of where I want to be and in reality this would probably suit 99% of my hunting but I get foolish sometimes and strive for perfection. I have time this week to head back to the range and will finish my fine tuning at 50 yards and not worry about the minor difference at 25 yards. I had stocked up on CCI Maxi-mags for a marlin .22 mag I had and I'm thrilled they shoot as good as they do out of my sportster. My best 3 shot group was all rounds touching when I settled in at 50 yards.


Thanks for listening and hopefully someone can learn from my bonehead move. I'm a little surprised that dead on at 25 yards equals 2" high at 50 yards but it is what it is. I don't bother at the 100 yard line because I won't take a shot on a coyote with this rifle beyond 60 to 70 yards and usually they are around 30-40 yards. I have a .222 rem I use for longer range work and consider the sportster my "urban" rig due to being a little more quiet and forcing myself to take one quality shot so they don't run off (hopefully).

[mechanic]

I'm actually low at 25 with my mag., and dead on at 100.  I'm comfortable to a little over 100, but loss of energy makes it not too effective much past that anyway...
 
Ben

[Ranger99]

at the risk of a bunch of posts telling
how full of  manure i am. . . . .


one should always sight in at the
range the shooting will be done at.
shooting at 50-60 zero at 50
shooting at 100 zero at 100
etc.
etc.


i see a lot of magazine articles and
post elsewhere that say to zero 2"
high at this range to be dead-on at
so-and-so range.


if you want to shoot at 200 or
whatever, shoot at that range to
see how your firearm and ammo
really perform instead of listening
to the web snipers.


i think you'll be ok with your sight-in
if you have rounds touching


good luck

[gcrank1]

For the 22M I like about a 60-75 yd. -0-
BTW, you didnt do bad, the rifle needs more rounds anyway before it gets good  .

[cwlongshot]

For the 22M I like about a 60-75 yd. -0-
BTW, you didnt do bad, the rifle needs more rounds anyway before it gets good  .

I agree, sounds like you did just fine!!! 

With rimfires or small centerfire rifles I agree with Ranger. I sight them in at the distance I expect to shoot. BUT then I shoot at my MAX distance and see what the bullet will strike there too. Sights are another limiting factor for me, I will not push ranges if all I have are open sights. But a scope allows me to squeeze everything availible from a given cartridage.

These are MY personal limitations, not meant to cast opinions on what anyone else chooses...

A 22LR/17M2 thats sighted dead on 40-50 and see where it will strike at 100.

For my 22m/17HMR thats 75/100 and again at 150

The 25/20 50 zero and 75 test (This one is mostly because I have open sights on one and a red dot on another.)

My 22H/218 Bee its 100 zero and again at 50, 75 &200 yards

My H&R 223 is 1/2" high at 100 and checked at 50 & 200 yards.

Years ago I shot competitively in the Chevy Truck team Challange. This had us shooting at 150 yards with a 22LR and high power scopes. One of my rifles had a 36x and my LWT a 18X. It was very telling to watch the bullets raise and fall in the scope before striking the steel. What this really tells you is the more you shoot at ANY RANGE to better you will get!!


BTW, many years ago I remember a article a out sighting hunting rifles at 20-25 yards for a 100 yard zero. Ya know what, they come out pretty close!!  I'll bet that 22m ain't too far off the zero impact at 100 shooting pimples at 25... Just saying.
CW

[Redhawk1]

I have my 22 Mag sighted in dead on at 100 yards. At 25 yards it is dead on, and at 50 yards it is 1 inch high and 1/2 inch high at 75 yards.
 
I always shot my guns in zeroed at the range that I am going to be shooting the most. Then I shoot the gun, and make notes where it hits at different ranges, with the cross hairs held dead on the target. I then make a small note, and stick it on the gun. That way I know where each of my guns are sighed in for, and where the bullet impacts at different ranges.
 
My 300 Win Mag is sighted dead on at 200 yards, I will shoot it at 250 & 300 yards and make notes, then I shoot it at 25, 100 and 150 yards to see where my point of impact is with a zero hold. Takes all the guess work out, and I know if I need to hold over and how much at longer ranges.